N-substituted 2-amino-4-pentenoic acids for amino acid protection and resolution

N-Substituted 2-amino-4-pentenoic acid derivatives employed fur the protect ion of racemic amino acids were shown to be capable of permitting the chrom atographic separation of R and S isomers. When Na was disubstituted with be nzyl and phenylfluorenyl groups, the racemic amino acids could be separated with facility on open silica gel columns. Further, the optically purr N-pr otected amino acids so derived could be used for the preparation of misacyl ated suppressor transfer RNAs. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.